Rossett News Update - 29 April 2022
This week, the leadership team welcomed back all students by year group, in assemblies. The focus for each year group was distinct, but key themes of reading; vocabulary development; getting the best out of the extra-curricular programme; and charity events were common to all.
We will be celebrating our 50th Birthday in 2023 and the planning for the events during that year have started already! Year 7 have been challenged to come up with original ways of marking fifty years; the School Council and Sixth Form Team will be an important part of the planning process; and we haven’t forgotten our all-important alumni!
If you were a student at Rossett School in the last fifty years, we would love to hear from you. We are looking for stories about the early days when the school had just opened - the 1970s; fond memories of class outings and trips abroad; anyone who can tell us more about their experiences of our international exchange trips where we have maintained contact with our sister schools of Falmouth and Ishigami (America, Japan); the legendary ‘school barge’ and sponsored walks; Bewerley Park, sailing and other outdoor exploits; musical and drama productions; language and cultural trips to Europe and beyond; the list is endless...
If you have memories to share that would allow us to mark the decades, celebrate the past and look forward to the future then please contact Mrs T Milner at tmilner@rossettschool.co.uk with your stories and pictures.
Silver Medal for Eilidh!
Year 9 student Eilidh Owens took part in the British Karate Championships in Leicester on Saturday 9 April, competing against the best in martial arts from across the UK. Despite having a tough draw in the first round and being punched early in the bout, Eilidh responded in style, scoring her own punch (within the rules!) to win 7-0. Following two other bouts, Eilidh came away victorious with her silver medal. We are incredibly proud of her performance!
GCSE and BTEC Letter to Parents/Carers
Parents/Carers of students in Year 11 were sent a letter today outlining the key dates for the BTEC and GCSE examinations. Click here to view. A more detailed letter will follow next week including the specific logistics parents/carers need to be aware of.
LRC News from Mr Asker
I very much hope that this finds you well and that you enjoyed the Easter holiday. Hopefully as a family you found some time to read and enjoy the lovely sunshine.
Given how busy the LRC is - reflecting our wonderful Rossett reading community - it was not necessarily a surprise to see that UK publishing total income reached a new high of £6.7bn in 2021, up from 5% in 2020. Every day I see how much books matter to the students and staff here at Rossett. Whilst there may be a 'lockdown effect' in play here it is still very encouraging to see that books matter to so many people, including children and young adults. Children’s fiction also saw a similar increase in sales.
What is a relatively new dynamic is the role of social media especially 'Tik Tok' in helping to promote new releases but also old favourites as well. The role of 'BookTokkers' in particular is proving to be invaluable in generating interest and enthusiasm for reading and books. The fault is mine that I didn’t know more about this and is a timely reminder that there are so many ways to encourage our students to enjoy reading. Certainly the rise in popularity in audio books has proven that this can lead to many young people listening to and then wanting to read more. It is clear that the more routes (including libraries!) there are into reading, the better it is for everyone and they all have a vital role to play.
Another new organisation to me is the 'Friends of the National Libraries' who save our written and printed heritage through acquisition grants to national and regional archives, libraries and collections. This week, they have helped purchase, for £1.25M, A Little Book of ten poems by Charlotte Bronte written when she was thirteen years old. This miniature book (it is only 3.8 X 2.5 inches) will now be donated and returned to the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, West Yorkshire where it was originally written. Again we see the importance of Libraries in helping to secure, promote and develop our love of books, their history and unique importance in our lives. As it has ever been, Libraries really matter.
Here at Rossett it has been very busy from day one of the new term and I have particularly enjoyed working with Year 7 and Year 8 during their specific library lessons. The enjoyment of books and reading is tangible. Long may it continue!
I hope you enjoy the long weekend when it comes. I shall find some time for reading, I hope you can too.
Regards
Mr S Asker
Term Dates for 2022-2023 - Please note a change to February half term
Sports' Studies Summer Extra-curricular timetable
Please click here for our Summer Term PE extra-curricular timetable.
PTA Lottery donation
Thank you to last week's winner of the Your School Lottery who donated their £23.70 winnings back to the school.
Your School Lottery is a weekly lottery that raises money for schools in the UK. Tickets for the lottery cost just £1 per week, with a top prize of £25,000. Each ticket will consist of six numbers and each number will be between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a six digit winning combination will be picked. Match all six and you can win the jackpot. Winners will be sent an email notification of their success.
Each week, there is a guaranteed winner from Rossett School who will win 30% of our ticket sales for the week! Just visit the online lottery site - https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/rossett-school to get involved.
Exam Invigilators Needed
Well done to...
- Our Year 9 Boys' Football Team who qualified for the final of the Area Cup with a win against Harrogate Grammar School 6-2.
What's happening this half term...
Monday 2 May
- May Day Bank Holiday - School closed
Monday 9 May
- All BTEC examinations begin
Monday 16 May
- GCSE examinations begin
Monday 23 May
- A Level examinations begin
Monday 30 May - Friday 3 June
- Half Term
Monday 6 June
- School re-opens for Summer Term.
H Woodcock
Headteacher
